Pocket knife



Nov. 9, 19.37.A v GSCHRADE 2,098,678

POCKET KNIFE Filed Jan. 16, 195s u a 31 a 34 L97 ,39 4o J5 23 1J 29 J5 v25 E' 9 ai 16 .a o S 26a "fill/III] ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 9, 1937UNITED STATES messia PATENT ori-ien 2,098,6i`8 POCKET KNIFE GeorgeSchrade, Bridgeport, Conn. Application January 16, 1936, Serial No.59,333 6 claims. (o1. ''0;15"9

in a way to prevent its accidental Vreleasement while carried in apocket as has been the case with a number of this type of knives, theblades of which are released by pressing upon a button, rather than by asliding movement.

A further object is to provide a slidable releasingr member, having athumb piece, that connects with a locking latch, and to design the slideso that it may be mounted either in one of the handle members of theknife 'or in one of the knife linings. g r

The invention is further directed toward bladelecking means that islocated in the butt end of the handle, and especially `to meansincluding `a movable latch member that engages the pointed end of theblade in a way to hold the blade 'in `a closed position and whichequally and effectively serves to release the blade when the slidablslide is manually operated for that purpose.

While in the accompanying drawing I have shown a pocket knife having buta single blade yet it will be readily understood that the invention canbe similarly applied to a two bladed knife by simply duplicating theoperating mechanisin and wherein the slide and operating button thereforwould b'e mounted iii opposite side members of thehandle; Y

In the accompanying drawing I have disclosed the' essential features ofmy invention in a practical form as embodied in commercial typesofp'ocket knives, though slight changes in co'ristruction of the detailsmayV obviously beinade without departing from the spirit and intent ofthe invention, in this respect the several iigiires of thev accompanyingdrawing clearly illustrate the structure and component parts thereof ona suitable scale for illustration and wherein similar characters ofreference have been used to denote like or corresponding partsthroughout the several ligures and of which,

Fig; l shows the right side View, of a pocket Yknife embodying myinvention, the 'blade of which is injaclosed position. V

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view as Vthe, operator foroperation of the slide.

apparson line 2'-`2 of Fig. 3, the same being a View of so much of theknife as remains after the lining and handle' of the right side has beenremoved.

Fig. 3 is anenlarged end View of the knife as seen from the left 'ofFig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similarly enlarged cross sectional View taken on line 4"-4of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view 'of one handle member and its slide astaken from the right side of Fig. 1 andas seen from the inner side ofthe said member as appears when removed and turned over.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged'top plan view of the butt 'e'nd portion of theknife 'as shown in Fig. l.

Fig. '7 'is a longitudinal sectional View somewhat like Fig. 2 exceptthat the blade is in an open psition.`

Fig; 8 shows a perspective view somewhat like Fig. 5 though of one ofthe lining members instead f a handle member and illustrating the slideas being mounted in a slot of the lining.

Fig. 9 is a cross section somewhat like Fig. 4 thoughi as it wouldappear if taken through a knife wherein the slide was mounted in thelining, as in Figs; 8 and 9,Y instead of in the handle.

. Figs. `l0 and 11 show modifications of the bladeholding latch'and itsmeans of operation, and

Fig. 12 shows a detached perspective view of l the slide shown in Figs.8 and 9.

Referring to the drawing, it will be observed that the preferred form ofthe invention as shown in Figs. 1 to '7 inclusive, includes two somewhatsimilar metal lining members iE--i in the form of elongated plates whichare of the length of the handle members and each include an enlargementI6 upon their forward end portions forming `a shoulderll against whichthe handle members lll-#I8 are positioned. These linings and handlemembers when assembled as shown are secured together by rivets I9,2li-2S, 2| and 22, `the latter also serving as a pivot for the bladethat extendsoutward into an opening 28 of the said handle member-topermit it to be engaged by The slide carries a lug 29 on its rear endwhich projects inward and serves to engagea -pocket 30' in the slidablelatch 24 to move the same backward, against the action of its spring 3|for the releasement of the blade 23. This latch is mounted to slide onthe inner surfaces 32 and 33 of the spring back 34 and is further guidedin its movements by the before-mentioned rivet |9, as will be seen fromFigs. 2 and 7, which rivet serves to not only hold the latch against thespring back 34 but further serves as a stop for the slidable latch andto limit the action of the spring. As will be seen from Figs. 2, 3, and6, the opposite side portions of the nose 35 of the slidable latch arebeveled so that when engaged by the pointed end of the blade, as inclosing the blade, the blade will spring sidewise slightly, past thepointed end and snap in under and against its under face thus assumingthe position shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In this respect it will be seen that the opposite inner faces of thelining members |5-|5, see Figs. 6 and 8, are cut away as at 36 so as toprovide room` for the end portion of the blade to swing past the beveledand reduced nose 35 of the latch and swing in under said end portion toengage the underside. The spring back 34 is secured between and to thelining members and handle members by the before-mentioned rivets 20--20so that the extended end portions of the spring back are more or lessfree, the longer forwardly extended portion 31 serving as a springagainst which the cam 38 of the blade operates. This spring backincludes a beveled inner edge portion 39 and a shouldered end portionMi, the former serving as a bearing for the cam shaped end 38 of thetang while the blade is in a closed position, and the end 40 serves as ashoulder against which the back square of the blade rests when the bladeis open. The cam 38 formed on the tang end of the blade and with respectto the pivotal pin 22 is such as to spring out the longer end 31 of thespring back when the blade is closed and to retain a tension upon theblade sufficient to cause it to swing open when pointed end portion isreleased by the slidabie latch 24. In practice this spring tension uponthe tang end of the blade when released is sufficient to throw it clearopen as shown in Fig. 7.

The elongated releasing slide 25, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 5, ismounted in a recess 25 of one ci the handle members with its lug end 29extending through a slot in the lining to` engage the pocket 35 of theslidable latch whereas, if preferred, the said slide may be slidablymounted in a slot 25a of one of the lining members as shown in Figs. 8and 9, and be supported upon its outside by one of the handle members I8and upon the inner side by its engagement with the latch 25. The forwardend of this slide 25 is provided with a lug 29 as in the preferred formand is also provided with a thumb piece 21a which, as will be noted, isslightly wider than the slot, to overlap the same where it extends intothe opening 28 of the handle member i3, and obviously serves to properlyguide the slide in the slot at this forward end portion.

In the modicaton shown in Fig. 10 the invention .is shown applied to apocket knife hav-y ing a onepiece handle and back la, that is a handlebent longitudinally U-shaped, from sheet metal, so that its parallelsides may form both a handle and linings. The construction of the andle,however, is not important so far as my invention is concerned and servesprincipally in the production of an inexpensive form of knife.

This mcdication, as will be seen, includes a spring back 34a for theknife blade as in the preferred form, and also includes a slidable latch24a, a rivet i9, a spring 3|, all of which serve to permit the operationof the latch for the engagement and releasement of the blade. The springSila, as employed in this modification, is preferably made shorterthanthat used in the other form and but one rivet 2@ is used to secure itagainst the shouldered U portion oi the handle. A part of the butt endportion of this handle member has a turned-up edge portion 42 whichserves in part as a bearing for the slidable latch 24, being locatedbelow the rivet |9, while the inner wall of the shouldered portion ofthe handle serves as a support for the downwardly extended inner endportion of the latch, the spring 3| being positioned between the saidend portion of the latch and the shoulder 42 of the handle. The latch inthis form is further provided with a short extension i3 which projectsout from the butt end which together with an attached ring serves as` ameans for slidably operating the latch for the releasernent of theblade, against `the action of its spring 3|.

In Fig. 1l I have shown a further modication which may include plate andhandle members and also the spring back shown in the preceding views.The latch 24a in this form is pivotally mounted upon the rivet i9 andserves to releasably engage the end of the blade. Its lower edge portion46 normally lies flat against the at top edge of the end of the spring35i which forms a yieldable resistance to the turning of the latchthough permits said latch to be swung down against said resistance asfor the releasement of the blade. The latch .in this form, like thatshown Fig. 10, is provided with a rearwardly extended thumb piece 43which may be provided with an attached ring .15 if so desired.

By way of a summary of the operation of the knife it will be understoodthat the position of the slidable locking latch is obviously normally ina locked position as indicated in the several figures and if the bladeis open and it is desired to i close the same it is simply swung inagainst the resistance of its back spring 31, as is the case with mostpocket knives and as the point of the blade approaches the latch itengages the beveled side face of the nose which forces the thin end E ofthe blade slightly to one side or the other until it enters the handlefar enough to snap in under the nose which obviously locks it. Thereleasement of the blade may be conveniently effected by one hand onlyby simply grasping the handle in a way that the thumb or forefinger canengage the thumb piece 21 and shove it backward toward the butt end, andagainst the action' of the spring 3| in a way to slide the latch4rearward sujicient to release the blade `whereupon the action of thespring 31 against -the cammed surface of the pivoted end of the bladewill throw the blade full open to the position shown in Fig. '1.

The differences in the means of operation of the form shown in Figs. 10and 11 from that shown in the preceding views are that the latches inthese forms are adapted to be directly engaged by the operator, toimpart sliding movement to the one shown in Fig. 10 for the releasementof the blade and a swinging movement to the latch shown in Fig'. 11which likewise serves to release the blade.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

lll

l. A pocket knife including a fly open blade mechanism, comprising ahandle and linings, a blade mounted therein and means to throw open thesame, a longitudinally movable latch mounted in the butt end of thehandle and having its opposite sides beveled to be engaged by the freeend portion of the blade, means to prevent lateral movement of thelatch, an elongated slide mounted in the handle and having one endconnected with the latch and the other provided with an exposedoperating lug whereby the slide and latch may be operated longitudinallyto release the blade the adjacent inner faces of the butt end portionsof the linings next adjacent the latch being cut away to provideadditional room for lateral movement of the pointed end of the blade topass and engage the latch.

2.v A knife of the class described including lining members one of whichis provided with an elongated slot, a spring back positioned betweensaid linings, a latch mounted for longitudinal slidable movement in theend portion of the handle between said linings and having its oppositeside portions tapered for engagement with the blade and its inner endportion extended longitudinally and centrally between the linings and inspaced relation thereto, means to normally hold the latch in a forwardposition, a blade pivotally mounted between the linings and having itspointed end disposed to engage either of the side portions of the latch,a member mounted in the slot of the linings and having a finger pieceprojected outward from one end portion and a lug projected inward fromthe'other end portion to engage and slide the latch against the actionof its spring to release the blade.

3. A knife of the class described including lining members, a backpositioned therebetween one end portion forming a spring and the otherend a guide, a longitudinally movable latch mounted in the butt end ofthe knife between said linings, said latch being supported againstlateral movement and having a blade engaging portion for engagement bythe pointed end of the blade and being so proportioned as to deflectsaid end portion of the blade to one side or the other of the knife in away to pass the same and be engaged l and held thereby, a springpositioned between the latch and the back to hold the latch in itsnormal position, a blade pivotally mounted inthe linings and having itspointed end normally disposed to be engaged by said movable latch andadapted to be sprung sideways to pass and engage the underside of saidlatch, and means to operate the latch against the action of the springto release the blade.

4. A pocket knife including a ily open blade mechanism, comprising ahandle and linings, a blade mounted therein and means to throw open thesame, a longitudinally movable latch mountcd in the butt end of thehandle and-having a longitudinal knife edged top portion and a beveledside to engage and deflect the blade, means to prevent lateral movementof the latch, an elongated slide mounted in the handle and having oneend connected with the latch and the other provided with an exposedoperating lug whereby the slide and latch may be operated longitudinallyto release the blade the adjacent inner faces of the butt end portionsof the linings next adjacent the latch being cut away to provideadditional room for lateral movement of the pointed end of the blade topass and engage the latch.

5. A knife of the class described including lining members, a springactuated blade hingedly mounted between the lining and adapted to beclosed in between the same, a longitudinally movable latch having a thintop edge and a beveled side adapted to be engaged by the free endportion of the blade in a manner to deflect the same to pass by andunder the latch to lock the blade, means for supporting the latchagainst lateral movement and means to operate the latch to release theblade.

6.Y A knife of the class described including lining members, a backsecured between the lining members forming a spring for the blade and aguide for a latch, a movable latch mounted between said lining membersand against said guide of the back, a spring between the latch and theback, means to hold the latch in position against the guide, a bladepivotally mounted in the linings and having its free end portiondisposed to engage and be locked by the movable latch, a longitudinalmovable slide having an exposed linger piece upon one portion and meansconnecting another portion with the said latch tooperate the sameagainst the action of its spring to release the blade, the oppositeinner face of the portion of the linings adjacent to the latch being cutaway to allow the end portion of the knife blade to freely pass theengaging portion of the latch.

GEORGE SCHRADE.

